Hillary Clinton Says Election Isn't About Her Anymore

DENVER (AP) - Hillary Rodham Clinton had a simple messageTuesday for her still loyal supporters: This election isn't abouther any more.

The former first lady ceded the nomination that was almost hersin a prime-time speech to Democratic delegates, closing anotherchapter in a long, improbable political career that took her fromsupportive spouse to political powerhouse.

She was warmly embraced by delegates split between herself andBarack Obama in the primary. Any who were still angry over her losswere drowned out in applause when she opened her speech bydeclaring herself "a proud supporter of Barack Obama."

She exhorted her backers to remember who was most important inthis campaign.

"I want you to ask yourselves: Were you in this campaign justfor me?" she said. She urged them instead to remember Marines whohave served their country, single mothers, families barely gettingby on minimum wage and other struggling Americans.

All the Clintons, a longtime royal family of Democraticpolitics, were on hand to pass the torch to Obama.

Clinton was introduced by her daughter Chelsea, while her husband watched from a box seat above the Arkansas delegation.

Clinton spoke on the eve of the delegate roll call in which bothshe and Obama will be nominated for president. But under a dealbetween the two camps, only some delegates will get the opportunityto cast a historic vote for either a woman or a black man beforethe split decision will be cut off in favor of unanimous consentfor Obama.

But at the 11th hour, many details were unclear - which stateswould get a chance to vote, whether Clinton herself would cut itoff in acclamation for Obama and if floor demonstrations would betolerated.

The dealmaking and lack of direction left Clinton supporters frustrated.

"Just tell me what you want me to do," Philadelphia MayorMichael Nutter said, throwing up his hands and rolling his eyes inan Associated Press interview. Nutter, who had campaigned forClinton during the Pennsylvania primary, later said he wouldsupport Obama in a roll call vote.

Even some of Clinton's most loyal allies - New York Democrats -are increasingly frustrated by the silence from her and heradvisers on how to proceed. New York delegates would likely play akey role in the roll call salute to Clinton but they still have noidea what it is they are supposed to do, according to severalDemocrats who spoke on condition of anonymity because they aresupposed to be publicly backing Clinton.

Clinton fueled confusion by refusing to publicly instruct herdelegates how to vote, though she said she'll back Obama when thetime comes.

She planned to meet with her delegates Wednesday.

The convention hall was filled with delegates wearing their Clinton gear. There were Hillary T-shirts, buttons and stickers.Some delegates brought signs promoting Clinton for president. Manywore white shirts to mark the 88th anniversary of women's suffrage.

The Obama campaign gave Clinton her due. Before she took thestage Tuesday night, Obama's campaign distributed "Hillary" signsthroughout the Pepsi Center. But only sentences into Clinton'sspeech, those signs were quickly swapped out for others proclaimingeither "Obama" or "Hillary" on one side, and "Unity" on theother.

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